By Travis Bremner

Staff Writer

After scoring some style points with pre-game games, the Duncanville Panthers had to work for their 50-45 over Coppell. The defensive struggle was apparent after the first quarter, when score ended at 11-9 in favor of Duncanville.

The Cowboys (5-3) played well throughout, and kept it close the game but just couldn’t get over the proverbial hump and grab hold of the lead. Post man Dallas Riney led Coppell in scoring with 10 points, including an emphatic alley-oop slam from Andrew Bourg that got the crowd on their feet.

It wasn’t all good times however; the Cowboys had several missed short range attempts at the basket that helped the Panthers (8-4) to victory. Do-it-all power forward Perry Jones had a game high 11 points. He too had a scintillating alley-oop dunk.

 The Cowboys trailed for most of the game, but never letting the deficit get insurmountable. Coppell cut the lead to three or two on multiple occasions but Duncanville always made a shot when they needed one.

The Panthers made their free throws down the stretch to seal the win. The Cowboys open with Ennis in the Cedar Hill tournament on Thursday at 12:30pm. To download an excel version of the bracket, click here.